5 Smart Home "Starter" Gadgets That Are Actually Worth Buying This Black Friday
The "smart home." That phrase can sound overwhelming, expensive, and complicated. You might picture someone rewiring their entire house just to turn on a light.
But in 2025, that's no longer the case. Building a smart, convenient home doesn't have to be a massive project. It can be done one simple, affordable piece at a time.
And with Black Friday and the holiday sales season right around the corner, now is the absolute best time to start.
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Forget the $1,000 robot vacuums (for now). If you're a beginner, you want gadgets that are cheap, easy to set up, and provide an immediate, "wow, that's cool" benefit.
Here are the 5 smart home "starter" gadgets that are actually worth your money.
What Makes a "Good" Starter Gadget?
Before we list them, our criteria are simple. A good starter gadget must be:
Affordable: Especially on Black Friday (think $10 - $30).
Easy to Set Up: You should be up and running in 5 minutes using just your phone.
High-Impact: It must solve a real, everyday annoyance.
The 5 Starter Gadgets to Watch This Black Friday
1. Smart Plugs (e.g., Kasa, Wyze, TP-Link)
What It Is: This is the "gateway drug" to the smart home. You plug it into your wall, then plug your "dumb" device into it. Why It's Worth It: It instantly makes any simple device smart.
Use Case: Plug in your coffee maker. Set a schedule so it turns on at 7:00 AM, and you wake up to the smell of fresh coffee.
Another Use Case: Connect your holiday lights or a standing fan. Now you can turn them on or off with your voice ("Hey Google, turn on the Christmas tree") instead of crawling behind the furniture to find the plug.
During Black Friday, these are often sold in packs of 2 or 4 for incredibly cheap. Don't miss them.
2. Smart Bulbs (e.g., Philips Hue, Govee, LIFX)
What It Is: The next logical step. These are Wi-Fi-connected light bulbs that replace your standard bulbs. Why It's Worth It: This is all about ambiance. It's not just about turning lights on or off—it's about controlling them.
Use Case: Dim the lights to 30% for movie night using just your voice.
Another Use Case: Set a "Wake Up Routine." Instead of a jarring alarm, your bedroom light can slowly brighten over 10 minutes, mimicking a natural sunrise. You can also change colors to match your mood or decor.
3. A Smart Speaker (e.g., Echo Dot, Google Nest Mini)
What It Is: This is the brain of your new smart home. It's the central hub you'll use to control everything else. Why It's Worth It: While you can control everything with apps, it's not truly "smart" until you use your voice. This speaker is your controller. It's what you'll say "Hey Google" or "Alexa" to.
Use Case: It plays music, sets timers, answers questions, and—most importantly—acts as the command center for your smart plugs and bulbs.
Black Friday Alert: Amazon and Google sell these at ridiculously low prices during Black Friday to get you into their ecosystem. This is a must-buy.
4. A Smart Display (e.g., Echo Show 5, Google Nest Hub)
What It Is: This is a smart speaker with a screen. Why It's Worth It: The screen adds a whole new dimension of usefulness, especially in two key places: the kitchen and the bedside table.
Use Case (Kitchen): "Hey Google, show me a recipe for chicken parmesan." The recipe appears on the screen, and you can follow it step-by-step with voice commands. It's also perfect for setting multiple timers while cooking.
Use Case (Bedside): It's the world's best alarm clock. You can see the weather at a glance, and if you get a smart camera (see below), you can say, "Show me the front door."
5. An Indoor Security Camera (e.g., Wyze Cam, Blink Mini)
What It Is: An affordable, Wi-Fi-connected camera that gives you peace of mind. Why It's Worth It: Ten years ago, security systems cost thousands. Today, for the price of a large pizza, you can get a high-definition camera that alerts your phone if it detects motion.
Use Case: Use it as a pet cam to see what your dog is up to, as a baby monitor, or simply to keep an eye on your apartment when you're away. Modern setup is just plugging it in and connecting to Wi-Fi.
How It All Works Together: The "Smart Home" Magic
The real magic isn't one device. It's how they work together. Imagine this:
You wake up on a dark morning. You say, "Hey Google, good morning." Your Smart Speaker hears you. Your Smart Bulb in the bedroom gently fades on to a warm yellow. Your Smart Plug in the kitchen turns on the coffee maker. And your Smart Display on your nightstand shows you the day's weather and top news.
That's the smart home. And it all starts with a few simple, affordable gadgets.
Our advice? Make a list of these 5 items and keep a close eye on them as Black Friday deals start to roll out. For a small investment, you can give your home a serious upgrade in convenience.